'Previous-day error → 8th-inning game-winning two-run homer' Kim Hyun-soo redeems himself! KT defeats Lotte 4-2, ends three-game losing streak [Suwon Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz veteran Kim Hyun-soo (38), who provided the opening for defeat with an error the previous day (the 4th), successfully redeemed himself.

On the 5th, KT secured a 4-2 victory over Lotte Giants in a regular-season home game at Suwon KT Wiz Park as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With this win, third-place KT (44 wins, 1 tie, 35 losses) extended its lead over fourth-place KIA Tigers (44 wins, 2 ties, 37 losses), who did not play due to rain cancellation earlier that day, by 1.5 games. Eighth-place Lotte, failing to achieve a sweep, finished with 36 wins, 2 ties, and 44 losses, settling for a winning series.

The turning point came in the bottom of the 8th inning when both teams were tied 2-2. Leadoff batter Choi Won-jun reached base with an infield hit to center field. Kim Hyun-soo then connected powerfully on a 139 km/h fastball from Jung Hyeon-su that was inside, sending it far over the right-field wall. This was his sixth home run of the season, traveling 115.4 meters. It marked his first home run since May 31 against Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome, coming after 35 days. The two-run homer, which avenged the previous day's disappointment, carried even greater significance.

Thanks to this, KT starting pitcher Matt Sauer did not take the loss despite pitching six innings, allowing six hits, issuing four walks (three free passes and one hit-by-pitch), striking out two batters, and surrendering two runs. In the lineup, Sam Hilliard went 2-for-4 with a home run and one RBI, while Heo Kyung-min contributed with two hits in three at-bats and one run scored. Sugimoto Kouki entered in the eighth inning, pitching one scoreless inning with one hit allowed and one strikeout to earn his first KBO debut win. Park Young-hyun returned to the mound after a long absence, pitching one scoreless inning to record his 16th save of the season.

Lotte starter Park Se-woong pitched well over seven innings, allowing five hits (including one home run), issuing one walk, striking out eight batters, and surrendering two runs, but his strong performance was overshadowed by the team's loss. Han Dong-hee and Park Chan-hyeong each recorded two hits in four at-bats, but could not secure a victory for their team.

KT's lineup that day was: Choi Won-jun (designated hitter), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), Ahn Hyeon-min (right fielder), Sam Hilliard (center fielder), Kim Min-hyuk (left fielder), Kim Sang-su (second baseman), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop). Matt Sauer was the starting pitcher.

Lotte countered with this lineup: Hwang Sung-bin (center fielder), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Victor Reyes (left fielder), Han Dong-hee (designated hitter), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Park Chan-hyeong (third baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), and Son Seong-bin (catcher). Park Se-woong was the starting pitcher.

The first run belonged to home team KT. In the bottom of the third inning, leadoff batter Heo Kyung-min reached base with an infield hit to right field. Han Seung-taek executed a sacrifice bunt to move Heo Kyung-min to second base, and Kwon Dong-jin followed with a two-run double to center-right field, giving KT the lead.

Lotte immediately responded. In the top of the fourth inning, leadoff batter Park Chan-hyeong reached base with a surprise bunt, Kim Se-min drew a walk, and Son Seong-bin executed a sacrifice bunt to create a scoring opportunity with one out and runners on second and third bases. Hwang Sung-bin targeted Sauer's first pitch, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field for an RBI, tying the game at 1-1.

The back-and-forth continued. In the bottom of the fourth inning, after one out, Hilliard hit a solo home run over the center-field fence to take a 2-1 lead. Lotte responded in the top of the sixth inning with two outs: Park Chan-hyeong hit an infield hit to center-right field, and Kim Se-min followed with a large two-run double down the left-field line, tying the game again at 2-2. This was Kim Se-min's first RBI since his debut.

However, Lotte's comeback ended there. KT took the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning with Kim Hyun-soo's two-run homer and never allowed Lotte to catch up.

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*This content was translated by AI.